Leitao is not going anywhere

He'll fulfill DePaul contract

raise hinted

Jean Lenti Ponsetto and Dave Leitao, an athletic director and a coach who understand the impact DePaul basketball can make on campus and in the Chicago area, came to a meeting of the minds Monday.

As a result, Leitao withdrew his name from consideration for the coaching vacancy at St. John's and will stay at DePaul for the remaining three years on his contract, perhaps longer.

Leitao coached DePaul to a 22-10 record last season, which included a share of the Conference USA regular-season championship and the school's first NCAA tournament victory since 1989, a double-overtime decision over Dayton.

"We know firsthand why Dave is considered such a jewel by other top programs throughout the country," Ponsetto said. "In his two years here, his vision and leadership have swept a new wave of Blue Demon spirit throughout our campus and the entire Chicagoland community."

There was no word on whether Leitao sought or was offered a contract extension, but there were indications he received a boost to his salary, reportedly $350,000.

"My family and I are pleased to know we'll be continuing our stay at DePaul," Leitao said. "I'm looking forward to continuing to build the foundation to enhance the recent success on the national level for many years to come.

"It was not a hard decision. My heart has been here."

Leitao left his job as Jim Calhoun's longtime assistant at Connecticut and succeeded Pat Kennedy as DePaul's coach for the 2002-03 season. His first DePaul team won 16 games and played in the National Invitation Tournament.

In 2003-04, DePaul won a school-record 12 games in Conference USA. After defeating Dayton in the NCAA tournament, the Blue Demons lost to eventual NCAA champion Connecticut.

Leitao joined Ray Meyer and Joey Meyer as the only coaches in school history to take their teams to postseason play in each of their first two seasons as head coach.

Ponsetto and Leitao finished discussing his coaching future Monday. Their talks began shortly after St. John's requested permission to speak with Leitao, who recruited many of the players on Connecticut's national championship team this season. Though she granted that permission, Ponsetto knew she wanted to keep her coach.

"DePaul has been 100 percent committed to keeping Dave in Chicago for many years to come," she said. "He and I have had an excellent relationship and have talked candidly about what we have to do to take the program to the next level.

"DePaul has pledged to treat Dave fairly and provide him with the support he needs to continue the winning attitude that our students, alumni and fans have begun to enjoy."

Timing was a key. DePaul moves into the Big East Conference for the 2005-06 season. The league already is a basketball powerhouse, with Connecticut and Syracuse having won the last two NCAA tournaments. DePaul, Marquette, Louisville and Cincinnati will join holdovers Pittsburgh, Providence, Seton Hall, Villanova, Notre Dame and others to form what might be the nation's strongest basketball conference.

"Dave has shown we can compete in the upper echelon in Conference USA," Ponsetto said. "I'm confident that by recruiting the same quality student-athletes and without compromising our academic integrity, we can stay [in] the Top 25."

Loyola: Meanwhile, athletic director John Planek said the Ramblers' search to name a successor to Larry Farmer was in its final stages and that the Ramblers could name their man as early as Wednesday or Thursday.

Northwestern: NU was said to be ready to announce that Beth Combs of Colgate will succeed June Olkowski as its women's basketball coach. NU athletic director Mark Murphy hired Combs as his women's coach when he was Colgate's AD.